Philadelphia Stumble in Texas & Mahomes Saves Kansas City – Top Moments from NFL the Twelfth Week
The twelfth week provided an epic Dallas Cowboys comeback, or was it an massive Eagles collapse?
Playoff Mahomes showed up to rescue the Chiefs' season as the Bears keep to surprise as they extend their winning run.
Did Shedeur Sanders perform sufficiently on his first NFL outing to secure the full-time role in Cleveland?
We’ll examine at the pick of the action in the NFL.
Analysis – Cowboys Comeback or Philly Fail?
Dallas found themselves trailing badly at 21-0 behind against the defending Super Bowl winners, how exactly did they engineer their equal-largest recovery in history?
Sentiment of a first home game after Marshawn Kneeland tragic death could have been a factor, but technically it was a combination of Dak Prescott resolve and a defence that pounced on uncommon mistakes by the Eagles.
Dak eclipsed Romo’s records for passing yards (now thirty-four thousand three hundred seventy-eight) and game-winning possessions (25) with an dynamic performance – his plunging touchdown personifying his all-action display.
Philly squandered a advantage of 21 points or more for the initial time after 1999, with only their second game with several turnovers this season – the previous being a disappointing division defeat at the Giants.
In addition to fourteen penalties for ninety-six yards, the attacking malaise that hit Jalen Hurts after what – for him – was an explosive start was huge. He had only thrown for over two hundred yards in 4 games before the weekend, he had more than one hundred fifty in the opening two quarters alone in Dallas.
However from the time Philadelphia went twenty-one to zero up their offense fell apart dramatically – with four consecutive kicks, a missed field goal and then a fumble handing chance after chance to the Dallas.
Philadelphia’s defence is brilliant, it really is, but an offense that's not surpassed 21 points in 5 of seven games (three losses) is now a huge concern, as the components are all there but it's simply not clicking.
Nick Sirianni approach is all about securing the key moments, the defense maintains them in it and what offence there is does just about sufficient – if it can't even do that and now the discipline and ball protection is breaking down, there may be trouble ahead.
Spotlight – Postseason Mahomes Appears Prematurely to Save Kansas City
It wasn't quite as dramatic, but Kansas City's 11-point recovery in the final period against a powerful Colts squad was very notable – and may have only saved their campaign.
How big was it? Well, the NFL's advanced analytics now assign the Chiefs a fifty-eight percent chance of making the playoffs, when a defeat on Sunday would have dropped that figure to twenty-eight percent.
It’s no surprise the postseason version of Mahomes turned up, throwing for 235 yards in the latter half by itself and guiding three point-scoring possessions in their final four possessions to win it in extra time.
A few big passes and daring runs are commonplace for Patrick in the postseason, but right now the Chiefs are in post-season mode – at 6-5 and only 10th in the AFC standings.
This was closer to the old Chiefs however, with a initial one-score win of the year after dropping five previously – they secured 11 of them last year so, if that belief comes back, this Chiefs Kingdom may not be done just yet.
Discussion – Can Bears Be Kings of the North?
You can no longer overlook the Bears now. A win over the Steelers, minus Aaron Rodgers, maintained them top of the division and at 8-3 – holding the same standing as the Philadelphia.
They appear threatening on each side of the field, with a defence that tops the league in picks and total turnovers and, in Williams, a emerging quarterback now accustomed to securing tight games.
He can still be shaky, surrendering a touchdown after a fumble in his own end zone – but he additionally threw 3 scores and, with already five final period rallies this year, he knows how to finish the game.
Green Bay are in hot pursuit in the NFC North after dominating the Vikings and the Lions are in contention after overcoming the New York in overtime with a monster game from Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago are strangely the most reliable with eight victories in 9, but as they visit the championship winners on the holiday we'll see just how strong they really are.
Preview – Exciting Thanksgiving in Store
It appears one of the most exciting Thanksgiving schedules for a long time, with every game packed with playoff consequences.
Detroit welcome the Packers in the traditional opener in Detroit, before a unusual visit back to Dallas for the Kansas City, who started out existence as the Dallas Texans long ago in the sixties before moving to Kansas City.
Sunday's comeback teams are both clinging to postseason aspirations but have minimal room for error – so this will have a playoff feel.
What about the Ravens? An unattractive win over the New York in fact has them top of the AFC North after starting one and five and looking finished.
Thanksgiving and Shopping Day Games (all times GMT)
- Thursday, 27 November: Packers @ Detroit Lions (18:00)
- Thursday, 27 November: Chiefs @ Dallas Cowboys (21:30)
- Friday, 28 November: Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (01:20)
- Friday, 28 November: Bears @ Eagles (20:00)
Can Sanders Keep His Starting Role?
Cleveland Browns head coach Stefanski dismissed questions on whether Shedeur Sanders had performed enough in his first professional start to keep the first-team position when Dillon Gabriel comes back.
But the issue will keep being asked as Sanders became the first Cleveland signal-caller to secure his first NFL start after Eric Zeier in 1999 – with 17 other first-year signal callers failing to do so since.
It was just the Las Vegas, and with the help of an nearly feral Cleveland defense recording 10 tackles, but the Browns’ offense needs a leader, a presence to inspire belief.
Moreover self-belief is something not missing in Sanders, who informed a network {